Flea-market Finds and Makeovers: Part 2

Decorating with flea-market finds is as interesting as it is fun for their nostalgic appeal and versatility. They really can compliment any décor style. Their character and history can even add warmth to a contemporary room scheme. Collecting items of the past and mixing them with those of the present is not only the current vogue but a continuing fascination for many and will be for generations to come. The recent boom in reproductions is largely due to the latest revivals and demands of items from the art-deco, the retro and the seventies era. Rule number one in Flea-marketing 101 is "always decorate with the things that you love".

A few simple ways to decorate with flea-Market finds

• An old window frame with broken glass panes can make an intriguing wall décor accent. Add other components such as small frames or china plates directly on the walls to make a vintage montage. I placed a piece of carved wood which just happened to be in the same colour on top of the frame to embellish it.
• Even a simple desk drawer from a broken desk can be salvaged and transformed into a unique hanging picture holder for small framed photographs. Clean, sand and wipe with cloth, then simply stain or glaze the drawer. Once dry, add mounting hardware at the back.
• Cake stands combined with glass domes can be used to display a variety of household items or collections such as handmade soaps or vintage hand towels in a bathroom. Stack cake stands in assorted sizes to make a distinctive centerpiece for a dining room or front hall table with flowers, fruits, pinecones or holiday glass balls depending on the season. You can even hand paint details on glass domes with glass paints or even rubber stamps.
• Glass candy jars and medicine jars look distinguished filled with almost anything such as seashells in the spring, floating candles and sea glass in turquoise hues for the summer, coloured leaves and oranges or small gourds in the fall, or holly sprigs, berries, and gold leaves for the holidays. You can probably get a good deal on a jar that doesn't have a matching lid and use it as a fish bowl, or place some sand in the bottom and add a few pillar candles in assorted size to create a warm glow for entertaining outdoors.
• Tea cups can be used to display flowers or a single floating candle on a side table or at each plate setting for a dinner party.
• Wooden wine boxes can be adorned by decoupage with pictures of the past, a neat item to place on a mantel or bookshelf at a cottage.
• Ceramic tea trivets can be use to display candles in luscious colours or to serve cheese and entrees for cocktails.

Top 10 trendy flea-market finds to decorate with

1. Any Retro Kitchenware from the 50's is making a huge comeback.
2. Enamelware from the 40's has become the new cool casual classic. They make great dishes for entertaining outdoors. They can easily be revamped to hide defects with colour enamel paints and a sponge.
3. Glassware is omnipresent with several sought-after styles like: Vaseline glass, Fire-King Jade-it glass, milk glass, depression glass, hand blown glass and even Jeanette glass from the 70's in iridescent colours are all hot items.
4. Anything wicker or rattan is back in style and is quite simple to revamp with a fresh coat of spray paint.
5. Trays and tin cans with vintage images and advertisements make great kitchen décor accents and collections.
6. Trunks and suitcases make original end tables and are wonderful for providing extra storage. Adding wheels on a large trunk creates a hip coffee table. Some look great in their natural state, with a good cleaning and an oil finish, others can be revived using wallpaper and fabrics to cover them, or by adding vintage decoupage.
7. Globes make sensational décor accents in a den, office or a child's bedroom.
8. Maps are great to use in decoupage projects for small table tops, lampshades, trays, walls or simply to frame.
9. Medicine bottles, especially in blue or green glass, are quite sought after to display as a collection, or as a single bottle with one flower added.
10. Tools and hardware are valued for their history, purpose, collection appeal and to display on walls especially at cottages. Findings like glass knobs, handles, and vintage hooks are best used to add to other flea-market finds.

Here's a quick tip for mixing the old with the new: the more modern the wall colours and surrounding décor are, the better an item or collection will stand out.

Variations of other flea-market finds to revamp and to decorate with

• Frosted glass toothpick holders from the 50's become spectacular centerpiece votives by simply adding tea candles to them.
• Old frames can be transformed using cork inserts - into serving trays or bulletin boards for teens' bedrooms or home offices.
• Galvanised wire baskets are perfect for home offices or kitchens to organize paper work, mail, books and magazines.
• Shabby-chic textiles and vintage linens make great throw pillows, quilts, curtains, chair slipcovers and placemats.
• Old barn wood can make a magnificent shelf, coat rack or even console table using vintage wood brackets.
• Wooden spindles can easily be transformed into nostalgic candlesticks or lamps.
• Old bed-spring coils can become intriguing candle stands or holders.
• Lamps can be made out of a variety of items such as vases, small columns, old boxes, and wooden blocks.
• Folding screens can be revamped by adding cork, wallpaper, rice paper or padded fabric inserts.

Visit Happy Harry's for used building materials such as doors, windows, lumber, etc. Try Enamelware.com to collect or learn more about enamelware styles and costs of coffee pots, dishes or bowls.